In the Morning Sow Thy Seed

The rich brown color of newly turned earth, the gentle placement of seeds in a straight garden furrow, then the act of faith as we cover the seeds with dirt. We water them and wait as nature does its job. As the seeds grow, we week and work, and as we do so we are blessed with increased self-reliance and insight into the law of the harvest. Eventually, we enjoy the succulent fruits of our labors—food.

The Lord has said, “The fulness of the earth is yours, … Yea, all things which come of the earth … are made for the benefit and use of man” (D&C 59:16, 18).

President Thomas S. Monson added another dimension to gardening as part of the larger goal of provident living when he said, “Self-reliance is a product of our work and undergirds all other welfare practices. It is an essential element in our spiritual as well as our temporal well-being.”1

Latter-day Saint artists have used their talents to remind us that growing a garden is filled with blessings. Following is some of their artwork accompanied by the words of President Spencer W. Kimball (1895-1985).2